ese, she managed to snare
partridges, rabbits and squirrels. She also killed several beavers and
porcupines. The sinews of the rabbit's legs and feet were twisted with
great dexterity, to supply the place of deer-sinews, when _they_ were
gone. Their skins also, with those of the squirrels, served to replenish
her exhausted wardrobe, supplying, under her skilful hand, a neat and
warm suit of winter clothing. Her industry was as untiring as her
ingenuity was fruitful of resources. Forlorn as her situation was, she
was composed and resigned, if not contented, and seemed to find pleasure
in employing every moment of her waking hours in some useful or
ornamental contrivance.

Her dress evinced much taste, and exhibited no little variety of
ornament. The materials, though rude, were very curiously wrought, and
so judiciously arranged, as to give to the whole a pleasing and romantic
effect. Her tunic was composed of the skins of squirrels and rabbits, in
alternate strips of grey and white. It was secured at the waist by a
belt of skin, beautifully wrought with porcupine quills, colored
pebbles, and strips of bark of various brilliant hues. Her mantle, which
was large, was of the fairest and most delicate skins, arranged with a
certain uniformity and harmony of design, which gave it all the grace
and beauty, without the stiffness, of a regular pattern. It had a
tasteful border, of brilliant feathers, and, like the belt before
described, was fastened by a clasp of an unique and original
contrivance, being made of the beaks and claws of her captives, arranged
and secured so as to interlock with each other. Her head-dress, leggings
and moccasins, were equally perfect in style and effect.

Besides accomplishing all this work, in her solitude, and even laying in
a stock of provisions in advance, sufficient for her wants, in case of a
long season of storms, sickness, or any other exigency, she had found
time to make several hundred fathoms of net-twine, by twisting the inner
rind, or bark, of willow boughs, into small lines. Of these, she
intended to make a fishing-net, as soon as the spring should open, and
thus enlarge her sources of subsistence and enjoyment.

* * * * *

It was past mid-winter. The snow lay deep and hard upon all the northern
hills and valleys. The lakes and rivers were frozen. The fountains of
nature were sealed up, and verdure, and fruitfulness, and almost all
the elements of l